Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-05-24
WASHINGTON GOSSIP. !
PROPHETS WHO FORETOtD THE
ASSASSINATION OF GARFIELD.

PROPHETS WHO FORETOtD THE
ASSASSINATION OF GARFIELD.
Some "Reminiscences of Gen. swaim-An
Adventure at Mentor With blood.
thirsty" Italian-vandalism and the
Washington Monument.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, May 10.
The new statue is bringing out some fresh
stories in regard to President Garfield. Gen.
Swain told me some interesting matter about
his assassination. He says that for months
prior to his death, indeed from the day of his
nomination at Chicago, Garfield received ap.
prehensive notes from his friends. "His life
was thought to be in danger" said Gen.
Swain, land number of prophecies were
made, chiefly by cranks, that he would be
nssassinated. l remember a curious instance
of this kind which happened about q month
before his assassination. A colored woman
called at the judge advocate generals Office
and asked for me. She was told that was
busy and asked her business. She replied
that her business was with Gen. Swain alone
and could be done with no one else but him,
She then went away saying that she would
return within an hour. The messenger came
in and reported her call, and told him to
admit her when she came back He did SO.
She was a tall, good looking, honest faced
coored woman, as solemn as a graveyard
and evidently deeply impressed with her mis-
sion. She began her conversation by telling
me that the president was going to lie killed.
and said that she had overheard the plot to
lake his life then asked her who she was
and where she came from.
So
"She replied that she came from South
Carolina, and that the plot to take the presi-
ients life was laid there. She had overheard
and had taken the first train for Washing
on. She then described in full detail the
dot, and her story was a remarkable one
She said there was deserted cabin near the
illage where she lived, and that she had mo-
iced that several men often went to this at
light She had wondered what they might
"a doing, and in order TO find out crept into
he loft Of the cabin. The first night she slept
here the men did not appear, but the second
light they came and talked together for Q
ong time They talked about President Gar
field, and decided that he nnst be killed, and
one of the men handed the man who was to
10 the killing bag OF money, and agreed
with him to give him more after the killing
vas done. This money, she said, was gold.
nd it was counted over under her eyes while
he looked down through crack in the floor
above. She gave the name Of the man who
paid the money, but she says she did not
know the man who had been engaged to do
the killing
II supposed at first that she was crazy. and
am not quite certain in my mind yet as to
whether she was or not tried to trip her ND
IS to her story, but she repeated it again and
gain during different calls without the
lightest variation as to fact. She claimed
he had started from South Carolina the day
liter the plot was laid, she had called at the
White House, but could not get admission.
mi she had been referred to me- asked her
Il she in ended to stay about the city for a
'ew days. and, if she did, told her that she
might look around and see if the persons she
mad seen plotting were in Washington. She
said she would do so, but that she could not
remain long, as she had no money. then
ssk-d her If she could work She replied that
die could do general homework, and sen.
her with note to Mrs. Blaine, asking her to
supply her with place il she found any of
ner friends in need Of such help It was
through Mrs. Blaine that she got work in
Wormley's hotel, and l do not know what
inally became of herr She was certainly
oi'Humniate actress, and whether she really
overheard some conversation from bits of
which she constructed this story, whether
she had trumped up the story to get place,
or whether she was crazy, do not know
Tell me, general" said l, ''the first intima-
tion you received of the possibility OF Gar
fields assassination"
ut was" said Gen. Swain, "iust at the
inn
rago. We were returning to Cleveland in a
special car, and at Norwalk received a teIe.
gram from a friend in New York. warning
NE to keep my eyes on Garfield, and saving
N the crowd at Cleveland there would be a
good opportunity for all assassination il sucb
! thing might DO contemplated The tele-
gram stated that the writer did not send It
rom knowledge Of any plot, but from a
itronS presentment that there was danrer
ahead AT Cleveland we found an immense
;rowd, and kept very close behind Garfield.
There was no attempt, and il any person had
attempted such a thing at Cleveland the
'rowd would have ground him to powder IN
IN instant. AT Mentor we received MANY in.
imations OF assassination, and it seemed tn
ne that half the cranks in the country had
ONE there. 1t was the same at Washington
md day rarely passes at the White House
nat some man with unbalanced brain does
lot attempt to see the president.
~.
Zone OF the most remarkable Of the Mentor
experiences" Gen. Swain continued, twas |
With an Italian, who, it was said, had been
Expelled from the order of the Jesuits, and |
Who We received word from Cleveland was
oming out to assassinate the president The
word was brought to us by Dr. Streator and |
les Everett, two Of the most prominent |
itizens Of Cleveland, and we also got note
bout the matter from Edwin Cowles of The |
'leveland Leader. DR. Streator and Mr.
,verett rode out to Mentor through driving
.orin and reached there in the middle Of the |
light TO warn US. ! let them in and they |
xcitedly laid the plot before me. The next
ay, sure enough, the Italian came. Ireceiyed
i'm and chatted with him for some little
me. He was very anxious to have an inter
lew with Gen. Garfield, but l put him
4. Upon talking with him found that
iere was no danger of his being an assassin.
was much intareStkd in his co,, t;o,, - |